ST. PETERSBURG – A sold-out crowd watched as the Tampa Bay Rays took a 9-2 lead against the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2014 season opener Monday, March 31, at Tropicana Field. This was the ninth consecutive season that the Rays have sold out the home opener.

Left-handed pitcher David Price took the win for the Rays against right-hander R.A. Dickey for the Jays. Price went 10-8, 3.33 in 2013. Dickey ended 2013 at 14-13, 4.21.

Monday’s game was the 17th opening day in Ray’s history and the fifth consecutive year the team has opened the season with a home game.

The Rays and Jays faceoff again Tuesday, April 1, at 7:10 p.m. The teams also play Wednesday and Thursday, April 2-3, at 7:10 p.m. Tampa Bay then takes on the Texas Rangers Friday through Sunday, April 4-6. Friday and Saturday games start at 7:10 p.m. Sunday’s game time is 1:40 p.m.

New renovations

The Rays showed off the extensive renovations at Tropicana Field, including a 360-degree pedestrian circulation around the lower seating bowl, which provides easier access to and from ballpark gates, concessions and activity areas throughout the facility. Existing cross-aisles in the lower bowl were extended from the left and right field foul poles to create a walkway lined with drink rails as it winds toward center field.

Opening day fans had a chance to stop by “The Porch,” a patio that occupies the previously glassed-in space occupied by Everglades BBQ Smokehouse. The Porch provides open views of the playing field and food and beverage area accessible to all. A new deck that overlooks the Rays Touch Tank connects the patio to the new walkway at the right field entrance.

Another renovation, installation of more traditional batter’s eye structure, meeting all MLB specifications, allowed visitors to access the entire lower seating bowl directly from escalators located at the main rotunda entrance of Tropicana Field.

Tickets

Tickets are still available for the three remaining games in the season-opening series versus the Blue Jays and the three-game weekend series versus the Texas Rangers.

The first Tampa Bay Times Ticket Tandem giveaway, a special-edition Rays Wall Banner, will be available at the game on Friday, April 4. Ticket Tandems include a ticket to the game plus an exclusive promotional item, which can only be claimed through this offer. For Ticket Tandem details, visit raysb­aseba­ll.co­m/tan­dems.

On Saturday, April 5, the first 20,000 fans will receive a Wil Myers Rookie of the Year commemorative bobblehead presented by Sagicor Life Insurance Company, and on Sunday, April 6, kids 14 and under will receive a Desmond Jennings Baseball Buddy presented by Match-Up Promotions. Kids can run the bases and are invited to join the DJ Kitty Kids Party in the outfield following Sunday's game.

Single-game tickets for Rays 2014 regular-season home games are available at raysb­aseba­ll.co­m, all Ticketmaster outlets, the Rays Tampa Store (400 N. Tampa St.) and the Gate 1 Tropicana Field Box Office, as well as over the phone at 888-FAN-RAYS.